Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not happy and he’s not pretending otherwise. After a surprise deal between the United States and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Netanyahu declared that Israel will “defend ourselves alone” if necessary. The message was sharp and it was clearly directed not just at Israel’s enemies but also at its closest ally.
The U.S. truce with the Iran-backed group came just hours after Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on key infrastructure in Yemen. These strikes were in direct response to a Houthi drone attack on Ben Gurion Airport, one of Israel’s most critical transportation hubs. As Israel moved swiftly to respond, the United States was negotiating a ceasefire and Israel, according to one official who spoke to CNN, had no idea.
That lack of communication didn’t sit well with Netanyahu. In his statement, he made it clear that while Israel values its alliances, it won’t wait for permission to protect itself. “We will defend ourselves, alone if we must,” he said.
This incident has exposed a growing divide between the Netanyahu government and the Trump administration when it comes to handling Iran’s influence in the region. While Trump has focused on quick deals and pragmatic truces, Israel is prioritizing long-term deterrence. And for Netanyahu, security isn’t negotiable.
The Israeli public, already on edge from months of tension, largely backed the prime minister’s tough stance. Many feel that in this volatile region, waiting can be deadly and acting first can be a matter of survival.
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